The Self-Esteem of John Vasconcellos

I am greatly dismayed by Jacques Leslie's reporting of my comments in "The Unsettled Self-Esteem of John Vasconcellos" (Aug. 23). The incident Leslie described and attributed to me was highly exaggerated, the language was not mine, nor was the situation presented within the context of our conversation. I have now, and always have had, great respect for Vasconcellos in his role as a legislator and as a caring human being whom I had the pleasure of working with for almost three years.

Eleanor Pett

Sunnyvale

Jacques Leslie's notes of his conversation with Pett show that he faithfully reported her account of the incident in question.--The Editors